Quarantine and chill and kindness chatty clubhouse: Jump in and join the conversation! All is welcome!

[Kirby]

This morning I got my hair cut. It had gotten a little longer than I could stand so it was time. The gal that cuts my hair decided to curl it. She doesn't usually do it and I refused the offer of hair spray but I think there must of been something in the water she sprayed on my hair when she began to cut it. I didn't check it over in the mirror before I left, maybe I should have. The wind was blowing some and I had to stop at Lowes to drop off a return. When I got back in my car I looked in the mirror and saw a large curl standing straight up in the middle of my head with my hair very windblown. Yikes! I looked like a mad scientist!!!

Had a fun time at my Book Club meeting last night. All but one of us were there and everyone was in a great mood. Lots of laughter. Our book for November was Four Winds by Kristin Hannah. Most everyone liked it.

James and Mack dropped by this evening. We are keeping Mack while he and Chelsea take a short trip for her birthday. We'll have Mack for about a week. He heads out to Pennsylvania next week for work, his first work trip in over a year. I have to say I've missed having Mack around so it will be nice to dog sit for a few days.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Lynn

 

[Snowysmom]

Lynn. Things will come up to make you think of Don sometimes and it can take you by surprise. They aren't silly but fond memories you have. Those memories may be hard right now. I hope you enjoyed the cocoa with the candy cane. I am glad you enjoyed your McDonald's meal even though you had to wait for it. At least it was nice and fresh.

Good morning. It is 26 here with temps heading into the 30s. I went to Market Basket yesterday to get salad, fruit, and a couple of other things. Chris loved their chili burritos so I got one. I get 2 meals out of it. I always think of him when I see them. Like Lynn with the candy cane in the cocoa, I put a candy cane into my green tea. It made a nice peppermint tea. I am having alot of emotions this holiday season and am finding it to be harder than I want it to be. I know I need to find calm and peace to think through alot of things.

Off to work. Have a good day.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Lynn, I agree with Snowy that those little memories just knocking you off balance is perfectly normal and how grief works. Hugs to you both

(I also totally get the occasional Big Mac craving! I'm glad the manager took care of you and it was yummy.)

I'm feeling a lot better and am officially clear to be around people again. We're in the "washing lots of laundry" phase now.

 

[lynxstch]

Good chilly morning. 16 going to 42 today. Then we warm up to near 60 tomorrow. This is nuts.
Trash men just came and took every last thing. As soon as I get the last stuff out in a couple of weeks, I'm going to get some Sheetz gift cards for them as a thank you. They don't have to take it all, but they do.

I was up late chatting on FB messenger to a friend till almost 2:30 am. I woke up at 5:30 and made myself go back to sleep until 7:30
I'm debating whether to put the elliptical or the pantry cabinet together today. Summer offered to help me with the cabinet, but she put together what I call my spice/potato cabinet in the kitchen together when I was in the hospital 2 years ago, but she put the whole thing together wrong and Luke had to take it apart and fix it. I figure I can at the very least put it together as bad as she did, lol.

Off to feed the cats, and the bunnies (got them some rabbit food yesterday) and get moving on the day.

Have a good one

 

[footballmouse]

Happy Wednesday!

Went through a couple of Xmas decoration boxes and ended up with a big pile for Goodwill, a few for the garbage and I set a few things out. Still have other boxes to go.

The medicine and fluids seem to have helped Twix. Yesterday when I got home from work she was waiting in the kitchen. I gave her some can cat food and she ate all of that. This morning she went out to eat some dry food. Last night she laid in my bed while we were all in the living room and she didn't move until this morning.

Today after work I need to pick up a record player that I won on the auction site. It's bigger than what I had, it looks like a 1940's style and it is able to play CD's and cassettes. I don't think I still have any of those but I might find one hiding in a drawer somewhere.

Yesterday at work my 2 bosses got into it . It was so awkward all day in the office, they didn't talk to anyone in the office and I didn't see my one boss all day. We'll see how today goes. I'm kinda glad it happened. My division director started here at the beginning of the year and she is a micro-manager . Well my other boss, the business director, stood up to her and told her to stop trying to manage his business team. Talk about drama.

Tonight is Survivor night so I'll have everything done by 8:00 but I really don't have anything to do, did my laundry last night. I think I'll put some zucchini on the grill tonight and have that with some pulled pork.

Have a great day!

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Good Morning

LynnI agree with everyone else. Take care of yourself and please enjoy cocoa and any other treat you may feel a taste for! Be kind to yourself, my friend. you, too, dear Snowysmom! You both have been through so much.

Grace of God I did get more rest last night. I am so praying today will somehow be a positive turning point to all this! This daily pain sure is rotten!

I miss old fashioned truly caring customer service! Phone calls can be very frustrating indeed! I will say Zazzle has very good customer service so that is a positive.

Love extra to all!

 

[lynxstch]

I swear that I am going to quit. I get the elliptical 3/4 of the way put together, and the axis bar that holds the handrails, has screws on either end you have to take out to put it through the middle. One came right out, the other is like it's welded in and can't be removed. I put it in a vise, hammered it, got Micah from next door to try and it won't budge. I got hold of Amazon and they are sending another one. I just need to take the new bar out, put the bad one in, and call them to have them set up return shipping through Fed Ex.

Last night it was a new paper shredder I bought 2 weeks ago. It worked fine. Last night I turned it on to shred something, and it has no power. I tried 3 other outlets and it's just dead. I called Amazon and they are sending a replacement for that and then I'll return the bad one to Kohls to go back.

Then Summer starts with texts. She's making up things that she says Don said the last time he talked to her in the hospital. On his birthday when she came with Skylar to see him. She's saying he told her he was never going to come back from this. He did not! I know, I was standing right by the bed while we were filling out the advanced directive. I know what she said isn't true, but it made me cry while I was sitting on the cellar floor trying to put the elliptical together. Why does she have to do things like that to me?

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Lynn.

 

[easyas123]

Good day everyone. Hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving. Sorry, I just went back a page or two and missed a fair bit I think.

Don's old boss called me last night and asked me to go out to lunch with her today, but since I'm waiting for the cable guy, I had a good excuse to politely decline. I'm not ready yet.

I think it's nice that folks are calling to catch up with you, and I think it's even better you have the internal knowledge to know where you are at and what will or will not work for you at the moment.

Then Summer starts with texts.

Is there a way you can block her texts, or better yet establish some sort of boundary along the lines of 'right now I'm up for one text (non emergency) per day and only positive ones'?

So we had a nice Thanksgiving - busy & crowded, but fun. For the first time ever though we were both exhausted from it and it seemed like we spent all day Friday & Saturday cleaning up! We are actually thinking about going away next Thanksgiving which is something we've never even contemplated! Of course, things can change so no one hold me to that!! haha!!

Foster pup is still with us, but I anticipate she'll be going up for adoption this week. Folks are still up here, but headed back to FL tomorrow, they leave for a 3 week trip over Christmas/New Years soon. Brothers are about to go out of the country for a bit, so I'm going to be holding down the fort here at the office. I drug all the Christmas decor out, but honestly I'm not really in the mood to decorate for some reason. We need to get the giant lit wreath out of the barn and haul it up onto the roof. I haven't really decorated inside or out, my basement is just a explosion of boxes and various stuff that I need to either open up and put up or put back away. Blah I'm just not feeling it yet I guess. One thing I don't feel bad about is shopping...I have no shopping to do this Christmas. Taking everyone on a trip in January and that is their gift and to be honest, I thought I'd really miss going out and Christmas shopping but I've come to realize I'm not missing it at all. I don't mind the hustle and bustle of the holidays in the stores, I'm ok w/ that. But not having to come up with gift ideas seems to have lifted a weight I didn't know what on me! I'm thinking this will be the year to establish a great reduction in gifts in general if I can get everyone on board.
Except for the dogs of course, gotta get the dogs lots of toys

The Great Freezer clear out begins tonight. Soft Shell crabs. Venison roast tomorrow. I was able to get a large Smith Island Cake out of my freezer today and donate it to the office holiday lunch. That damn thing has been sucking up space in there since the summer and I was tired of seeing it every time I opened the freezer!

 

[easyas123]

Decided to make a bigger effort, went back and skimmed a few more pages...I'm trying I'm trying!!!!

A special text came from one of the Coasties we hosted last Thanksgiving. That group was so special and to be remembered by one of them was extra nice!

That's really nice, you must have made a lasting impression! My nephew is in Coast Guard, stationed down in VA. He really likes it.

The other thing is how do all of you hang your stockings? Dad and I don't have a mantle.

We have a mantle but I've always found that those stocking hanger thingys made of wood & metal weren't even enough to hold the stockings. We ended up putting them on either a coffee table or hope chest that is under the TV.

We changed some of our upcoming reservations around after the ‘prostitutes and pit bulls’ experience in Arizona.

I've only been to Arizona - Phoenix, once. It was several years ago but now that I think about it your description hits right

This morning I got my hair cut

I'm in a weird spot with my hair. Last time I got it cut - well honestly just a bare trim, it started acting weird and looking odd. I know that sounds dumb but I'm not sure how else to describe it! I'm trying to grow it out a bit from rather short to longer and to say I'm in a awkward phase is a understatement.

The medicine and fluids seem to have helped Twix.

Good to read, it's so hard when they can't tell us what's wrong.

Went through a couple of Xmas decoration boxes and ended up with a big pile for Goodwill,

I was able to put one bag together for Goodwill. Now I've just got to actually get it there-

Grace of God I did get more rest last night. I am so praying today will somehow be a positive turning point to all this! This daily pain sure is rotten!

Glad to read you are feeling better. Were you ever able to access any medical care? I hope so!

 

[lynxstch]

@easyas123 I could block Summer's texts or calls, but then she would just show up at the door, lol. I told her today to stop talking about things that didn't happen, and making up things she 'thinks' he said. She didn't show this concern when he was alive, I don't need to be hearing it daily now. We'll see what happens!

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Thanks dear Easyas, I was able to consult with a few medical professionals. Praying to be moving positively forward. One day at a time.

Lynn, big extra hugs my friend.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Good evening!

@easyas123 I totally get what you’re saying about going away next year for Thanksgiving! We went away for Christmas last year for the first and only time and it was really so nice. We felt so little pressure about the holidays because, for us, the trip was our present. I sent some small gifts via Amazon to the three people I usually buy something for, and that was easy. I didn’t even send out cards! And the trip itself was so wonderful. I‘ve been thinking a lot about it recently. We’re back to the old grind as far as holidays go - DD was put on for every freakin holiday, as was DS, and I worked Thanksgiving. I have Christmas off but at this point, if DD has to go in, I might just go in, too, and let someone else have it off, but we’ll see. It gets a little tricky if DD were to get it off at the last minute (if beds were empty or too many people are scheduled) and then I might be stuck going in by myself, lol. But anyway, you had that big wedding, and the holiday was big, too. No wonder you’re exhausted and having dreams of getting away from it all! Good luck with the doggie!

Hugs to all having a hard time and missing their loved ones. This is always a hard time of year for that. DD had a tough patient situation this week where she had to care for a young person dying (younger than her ). I was proud of the way she handled it. She kept on talking to her even though there wasn’t much sign of life, and she saw a slight nod of her head twice, so she heard what she was saying, but then not again. That was very eye opening for DD - I’ve always taught her this very thing, and I know she’s been in that situation before, but never with someone so young. The family was so sweet, too, even in such an awful situation. My heart goes out to all of you.

Lynn, Summer has a lot of issues, from what we’ve heard here. I’m sure she’s going through her own stuff, but God, you have to protect yourself, too. If it’s hurtful, then it’s ok to keep some distance, as you’re doing. It’s all still so fresh for you and it’s a really hard time of year, so do what you’re doing and let her delusions go right out the window. Maybe she’ll figure out someday why she’s making things up when she surely knows it’s hurtful. You hang in there.

Snowysmom, as always, hugs. You’ve been through so much and you’re in a new home, in a new place, during the holidays, without Chris, and still having problems with the builder, etc. I always feel like holidays are so stressful to so many. I think and hope that after the new year, things will settle down and you can begin to feel more settled. I’m glad you’re meeting new people in the neighborhood.

Always think of dazed and Kirby too. And frog and other friends here.

Mona I’m glad the walker is helping you, I thought it would. Here’s hoping for progress towards an upcoming medical evaluation. I sent off my package for your Dad today, it should be there in a few days, with some New England treats for both of you!

Busy couple of days between work and errands. I hope everyone has a good rest of the week!

 

[Snowysmom]

Good morning. I got into the office a bit early today. I did leave earlier and traffic was not too bad.

Lynn Summer definitely has some issues that she needs to take care of. It is fine for you to distance yourself if needed. You need to take care of you. How frustrating with the elliptical. I give you alot of credit for putting it together. I would like to get an exercise bike but Kenny would be elected to put it together.

Mona I hope you continue to see progress with you pain issues.

Pea-n-Me Your DD sounds like such a good nurse. Such a tough time for her. She is fortunate to have you to go to for advice and support.

Thinking dazed and Frog. I was just thinking of Frog yesterday and hoping all is well.

Time to work. Have a good day.

 

[footballmouse]

Happy Friday Eve!

Went to Evan's soccer game last night so I was able to play with Mia during the game . I bought her a pair of Minnie Mouse kids sunglasses from Temu and the arrived yesterday. She likes playing with Evan's sunglasses so I figured I'd get her a pair, if she breaks them so she breaks them, they were only $2.

Watched the end of Survivor, okay with who went home. I even stayed awake to watch The Amazing Race. On that show it's getting to the point where I like all the teams so I feel bad for the team that went home.

Ended up picking up McDonald's on the way to the game, hopefully I'll cook tonight. I have a layout to go to after work, my brother-in-law's brother passed away from cancer the other day.

This morning on my way to work I was following a police car . I was behind him for quite a while and just figured he was heading downtown for a court case. We come up to a section of the road (2 lanes each way) and a car was in my lane coming towards us . The cop goes around her and now she's headed towards me. I stopped and she was able to go around me and back in her lane but I'm still trying to figure out why the cop didn't stop. Court doesn't start until 8:00 and it wasn't even 7:00 yet. Talk about waking up quick!

Bought a couple of Xmas gifts last night so I'm about 65% done.

Back to work, have a great day!

 

[lynxstch]

Good morning. We're going to be near 60 today and tomorrow, so I plan on getting outside and getting some fresh air. I need to take a break from lifting and moving things from the cellar to the trash pile, my sciatica is bothering me, I know I've been overdoing it, but I want it done.

I watched Survivor live last night, and I was happy with who went home, but it was a stupid move on their part. Never trust your tribe members, lol.

I also watched the Hallmark "Christmas at Biltmore" or whatever it was. It was sweet, but it was also one of the strangest Christmas movies I have seen on there in a long time. A little far fetched to say the least.

I unboxed the pantry cabinet I bought that has to be assembled. All the parts are there, it says 30 minutes to put together, which means I better allow at least 3x that, lol.
I haven't done any Christmas shopping (and not sure if I'm going to. If I do, it will all be done online), but I went as far as addressing a few Christmas cards, very few. I mailed all of the thank you notes I had to write for the memorial service and to people who were more than kind to me. I got a beautiful card in the mail yesterday from an 80 year old Aunt of Don's (I only met her twice), with some cash, that she said was in place of flowers, to buy something to remember Don by, which was so very sweet of her.

Have a great day everyone, thanks for the uplifting words of support from so many of you to those of us who are having a really hard time with this time of year.

 

[lynxstch]

Welcome to our friendly little thread @Zeezy !

We talk about anything and everything and support each other whenever we can. Always glad to see new people joining in!

 

[lynxstch]

I went to the basement, and cleaned off the last shelf. Didn't involve much lifting, except for a box of beer glasses. I found Don's high school graduation cap and gown (52 years later, it's time to trash it), along with his high school yearbook. Apparently he was quite the hell raiser and drinker in his senior year, lol. He changed a lot after that. I spent half an hour reading and laughing at some of the comments people wrote in them. I'm setting it aside for Summer if she wants it, if not it's going in the trash. That's the extent of my cleaning. I've made it through almost all of the junk down there , just have to put the rest of the trash outside eventually, and have one big yard sale in the spring. What's left down there is either my stuff, which I've already gone through or things I still use. It's almost looking like a basement again.

 

[PollyannaMom]

...high school yearbook...I'm setting it aside for Summer if she wants it, if not it's going in the trash.

If she doesn't want it, you could offer it to his high school before you throw it out. Sometimes they keep a collection in their libraries.